Key opening container



0a. 29, 1935. J M YOUNG 2,018,696

KEY OPENING CONTAINER Filed Aug. 14, 1930 INVENTOR A'EQRNEYW Patented Oct. 29, 1935 UNETE KEY OPENING CONTAINER Application August 14, 1930, Serial No. 475,141

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to an improvement in key opening containers embodying tearing strips and has particular reference to a selfdirecting key for such a container which directs the line of tear from tongue engaging position into tearing strip removal position.

To this end, the invention contemplates the provision of a key for a container having a bent shank adapted, when rotated in key opening manner, to properly guide the line of tear as the tearing strip is removed from the container.

Numerous other objects of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawing:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container having a tearing strip and an opening key to be used in opening the container;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of such an opening key;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front elevation of a tearing strip container part illustrating its opening key applied to the tongue thereof in the first position of the opening operation;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3- illustrating the opening key after being rotated one-half turn;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 illustrating the key after being rotated three-quarters of a turn;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3 illustrating the key after it has been rotated one complete turn;

Fig. '7 is a view similar to Fig. 3 illustrating the position of the key at the end of a turn and onehalf; and

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 3 illustrating the key at the end of two complete turns.

For the purpose of more clearly illustrating the present invention, there is disclosed in the drawing a preferred 'form of container comprising a body 21 and a bottom end 22 secured thereto by double seaming or in other suitable vmanner. The upper end of the container is closed by a tightly fitting cover member 23 formed with an annular downwardly extending flange 24 adapted to tightly and frictionally fit on the body wall. This kind of container and cover are here used as being representative of containers which are opened by the removal of a tearing strip and in which the opening key is applied to the tearing strip at right angles to or cross-wise of the line of tear.

The annular flange 24 is circumferentially weakened by a score line 25 cut therein adjacent the upper edge of the cover member. That part of the flange extending between the score line 25 and the lower edge of the cover member comprises a tearing strip 26 which is adapted for removal to sever connection between the cover member 23 and the container body 21 when access is to be had to the interior of the container. 5 This tearing strip 26 is provided with a downwardly extending tongue 2'! on which the opening key is placed for the winding off of the strip.

A preferred form of opening key is illustrated in Fig. 2 and is also shown in Fig. l as being temporarily secured to the top of the container as by a spot welded connection 29, or other suitable connection, this insuring delivery of a key with each container. The key of the present invention is provided with suitable means for engaging a tearing tongue of a can, and I illustrate the same as comprising a shank 3! flattened at 32 and slotted at 33 for reception of the tongue 2?. A terminal part 35 of the shank extends beyond the flattened portion 32 and a manipulating head or finger piece 35 connects, by means of a section 36 of the shank, with this flattened portion at its opposite end. The section 36 of the shank extends at an obtuse angle to the straight part of the shank, this angular feature providing a key having a self-directing function of operation as will now be described.

In removing such a tearing strip 26 by application of the opening key-to its right angled tongue, it is necessary that the tearing strip first be severed crosswise, after which, the line of tear is brought into the score line 25. The bent key of the present invention automatically directs such a line of tear. The tongue 2i is preferably joined to the tearing strip 26 with one curved edge or corner 3'5 which tends to prevent tearing in that corner and with an oppositely disposed sharp angled edge or corner 38 which because of its sharp outline tends to facilitate the starting of the tear in that corner. 40 In opening the container, it is held in a normal upright position, the key is positioned for the opening operation with its shank 34 horizontally, the tongue 2? engaging within the slot 33 and the key section 36 and head 35 extending upwardly at an angle, as illustrated in Fig. 3. The end 34 of the shank is thus brought adjacent the lower line of the tearing strip 25 being centered within an imaginary circle designated by the letter a. The key is then rotated in a regular manner; this rotation being on the axis of its shank 3|, the tongue 2! being bent into the position illustrated in Fig. 4 and the head of the key at such time gyrating through degrees. The key sec- 56 tion 36 moves into a second angular position relative to its horizontally extending shank, this time projecting downwardly as illustrated in Fig. 4. During this initial gyration, the end 34 of the shank 35 remains within the circle a, this end of the key automatically acting as a pivot for such movement.

During the next quarter turn of the key, duringwhich time its manipulating head 35 continues to gyrate about the end 34, a line of tear ii is formed, this line starting from the sharp corner or edge 38 of the tearing strip, and extending crosswise of the width thereof. The key at such time is then in the position illustrated in Fig. 5, its head 35 being spaced away from the flange 24 of the cover member by reason of the angularly extending section 35 thereof.

At the end of the next quarter turn of the key, that is at the completion of one rotation from its initial position of application to the tongue 27, the end 34 leaves its first position and moves downwardly a short distance below the lower edge of the tearing strip 26, (Fig. 6). The line of tear t! is thereby lengthened extending at an angle across the tearing strip 25. The bent construction of the key, during this movement, efiects a raising of the head 35 above the top edge of the cover, this head moving in a wide sweep of gyration. No tearing of the strip 26 takes place adjacent the rounded edge 31, the key shank rolling around and along this rounded edge.

Fig. 7 illustrates the key after it has moved through the next one-half rotation, its end 34 at such time moving downwardly as shown while the head 35 continues through its gyrations. The line of tear H lengthens, extending into the score line 25 after which it extends along that line, the tearing strip 26 being wound on the key shank.

At the end of two complete turns of the key, (Fig. 8) the head 35 is entirely clear of the top edge of the cover member 23 and the tearing strip 26 has been further wound upon the shank of the key, the end 34 of the latter moving downwardly into the position shown. The shank of the key 31 is now substantially vertical and further rotation of the key on the axis of its shank continues to wind the tearing strip thereon, the shank remaining substantially vertical throughout the remaining opening operation.

From the preceding description, it will be evident that the bent construction of key provides a self-adjusting function which causes the key to pivot in a manner to correctly carry the line of tear first across the tearing strip and thence into the score line, the operator merely turning the key by application of a rotating force to its head.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form,

construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and'scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. A container, scored to set off a tearing strip extending circumferentially thereof and terminating in a tongue, and a key adapted to engage said tongue and wind off said tearing strip to open the container, said key having a shank provided with a tongue engaging slot adjacent one end thereof and a manipulating head connecting with the opposite end of the shank, and the handle part of the shank extending at an angle to the tongue-engaging part of the shank, the angle between the two parts of the shank causing the handle part of the shank to describe the arc of a circle with the tongue-end of the shank as a pivot during Winding of said tearing strip on said key 20 whereby the line of tear proceeds from a point adjacent one edge of said tongue upward and also circularly across said tearing strip and-into the upper line thereof.

2. A container having a cover, scored to set off a tearing strip circumferentially thereof, a tongue extending from said strip and forming therewith a rounded corner adapted to resist tearing and a sharp corner adapted to facilitate tearing and a key adapted to engage said tongue and wind oif said tearing strip to open the container, said key having its shank bent at an angle to a straight portion thereof to provide a means in said shank which controls proper tearing of said tongue and said strip.

3. The combination in a container with a tearing strip set off by a score line, of a key-engaging tongue extending from said strip at an angle to said score line, and a key having a manipulating head and a two part shank, one of said shank parts being formed at an angle to the other, whereby the shank part forming the handle of said key is adapted to be gyrated about the stripengaging end to self-direct said key to produce an outward pull on the strip in a direction away from the can while the strip is being wrapped on the strip-engaging part of the shank, to produce an initial tear at an angle to said score line and then along said score line until the whole strip is severed from said container and wound 50 formed therein, and a portion bent near said slot at an angle to said straight portion and forming a handle whereby said handle is adapted to be gyrated about the slotted portion to self-direct said key and control the line of tear while at the same time the slotted portion is being rotated.

JOHN M. YOUNG. 

